Battery charge apparatus and charge system

ABSTRACT

A battery charge apparatus and a charge system are disclosed. The charge apparatus includes first and second charge module connected to each other. The first charge module is connected to an auxiliary power, makes a processor thereof generate a charge-unit-address code for the charge unit thereof, and turns on an auxiliary switch thereof for transmitting the auxiliary power to the second charge module for activated the second charge module. The second charge module then sends a charge-module-address request to the first charge module to ask for a charge-module-address code. Thereafter, the first charge module performs charge procedure and informs the second charge module to perform charge procedure when battery connected to the first charge module is fully charged. The second charge module then performs charge procedure and sends fully charged information to the first charge module when the battery connected to the second charge module is fully charged.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a battery charge apparatus. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to multistage batterycharge apparatus and charge system.

Description of Related Art

Because of the demands on power and endurance, other large electricpower products, such as unmanned aircraft, electrically-poweredvehicles, and electrically-powered two-wheel vehicles uses pluralbatteries in parallel connection so as to acquire high voltage and highcurrent. A person who has two or more large electric power productsneeds a great number of batteries.

In general, the battery charger can charge plural batteries (forexample, 4 batteries). When the used has a great number of batteries(more than 4 batteries), the batteries may be separately charged; i.e.,the battery charger initially charges some of the batteries at first,and some of the other batteries are charged thereafter. However, it isinconvenient.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery chargeapparatus is disclosed. The battery charge apparatus includes a firstcharge module and a second charge module; each of the first chargemodule and the second charge module includes a main power inputterminal, a main power output terminal, an auxiliary power inputterminal, an auxiliary power output terminal, a processor, an auxiliarypower switch, and at least one charge unit. The auxiliary power switchis connected to the auxiliary power input terminal and the auxiliarypower output terminal, and the processor is electrically connected tothe auxiliary power switch and the charge unit. The main power inputterminal of the first charge module is connected to a main power, andthe auxiliary power input terminal of the first charge module isconnected to an auxiliary power source; the main power output terminalof the first charge module is connected to the main power input terminalof the second charge module, and the auxiliary power output terminal ofthe first charge module is connected to the auxiliary power inputterminal of the second charge module.

The auxiliary power switch of the first charge module is turned on andthe auxiliary power is conducted to the second charge module after acharge-unit-address code is produced and sent to the charge unit of thefirst charge module by the processor of the first charge module, and acharge-module-address code provided by the first charge module based ona charge-module-address request generated by the second charge moduleand transmitted to the first charge module is transmitted to the secondcharge module.

The processor of the first charge module is configured to control thecharge unit of the first charge module to perform charge procedure inaccordance with the charge-unit-address code when the charge unit is notfully charged, and the processor of the first charge module isconfigured to generate a charge command having the charge-module-addresscode and transmit the charge command to the second charge module afterthe charge unit of the first charge module is fully charged.

The processor of second charge module is configured to control thecharge unit of second charge module to perform charge procedure afterthe charge unit of the second charge module receives the charge command,the second charge module generates a fully charged information when thecharge unit of the second charge module is fully charged and transmitsthe fully charged information to the first charge module.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a charge systemincludes the battery charge apparatus mentioned above and a power supplydevice is disclosed. The power supply device is configured to generatethe main power and the auxiliary power, and the battery charge apparatusis electrically connected to the power supply device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading thefollowing detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made tothe accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a charge module according to a 1stembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a charge module according to a 2ndembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of a charge system according to a 3rdembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is another circuit block diagram of the charge system accordingto the 3rd embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are circuit diagram of the charge system accordingto the 3rd embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of a charge system according to a 4thembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is another circuit block diagram of a charge module according tothe 4th embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of a charge module according to a 5thembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of a charge module according to a 6thembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which is a circuit block diagram of acharge module according to a 1st embodiment of the present disclosure.In FIG. 1, the charge module 10 includes a processor 100, an auxiliarypower switch 102, at least one charge unit 104, a main power inputterminal 112, a main power output terminal 114, an auxiliary power inputterminal 116, and an auxiliary power output terminal 118.

The main power input terminal 112 is electrically connected to the mainpower output terminal 114. The auxiliary power switch 102 is arrangedbetween the auxiliary power input terminal 116 and the auxiliary poweroutput terminal 118 and connected thereto. The processor 100 isconnected to the auxiliary power switch 102 and configured to generatesignal(s) to turn on/off the auxiliary power switch 102. Specifically,when the auxiliary power switch 102 controlled by the processor 100 isturned on, the auxiliary power AUX is conducted to the auxiliary poweroutput terminal 118; on the contrary, when the auxiliary power switch102 controlled by the processor 100 is turned off, the auxiliary powerAUX is not conducted to the auxiliary power output terminal 118.

The charge unit 104 is connected to the processor 100, the main powerinput terminal 112, and the auxiliary power input terminal 116. Thecharge unit 104 includes a battery management unit 106, the chargeswitch 108, and the charge port 110; the battery management unit 106 iselectrically connected to the processor 100 and the auxiliary powerinput terminal 116, the charge switch 108 is electrically connected tothe main power input terminal 112 and the battery management unit 106,and the charge port 110 is electrically connected to the charge switch108. The battery management unit 106 is configured to connect ordisconnect the main power MAIN to the battery BAT using the chargeswitch 108 to charge the battery BAT connected to the charge port 110.

The charge module 10 further includes a receiving and transmitting (T/R)unit 120 electrically connected to the processor 100, the auxiliarypower output terminal 116, and the charge unit 104. When a plurality ofcharge modules 10 are assembled, a wire-based connection or a wirelessconnected is constituted among the T/R units 120 for transmitting andreceiving signal(s) and information.

The charge module 10 is configured to charge the battery BATelectrically connected to the charge port 110. Specifically, the chargemodule 10 is, for example, electrically connected to a power supplydevice (not shown) for providing a main power MAIN and an auxiliarypower AUX. The main power MAIN is used for charging the battery BAT. Theauxiliary power AUX is used for powering the charge module 10. Forexample, the auxiliary power AUX has a proper voltage to be used forpower supplying the processor 100, the power management unit 106, andthe T/R unit 120.

The charge module 10 may be designed for charging single battery BAT (asshown in FIG. 1); however, the charge module 10 may be used for chargingplural batteries BAT (as shown in FIG. 2). In FIG. 2, the charge module10 includes a plurality of charge units 104 electrically connected tothe processor 100, and each of the charge units 104 is used for charginga battery set 11 including two (or more) batteries BAT.

Reference is made to FIG. 3, which is a circuit block diagram of acharge system according to a 3rd embodiment of the present disclosure.In FIG. 3, the charge system (its reference numeral is omitted) includesa battery charge apparatus 1 and a power supply device 20. The batterycharge apparatus 1 is electrically connected to the power supply device20 for receiving electric powers (i.e., the main power MAIN and theauxiliary power AUX) provided by the power supply device 20 and isconfigured to charge the battery BAT.

The battery charge apparatus 1 includes a first charge module 10_1, asecond charge module 10_2, and a third charge module 10_3; the firstcharge module 10_1 is electrically connected to the power supply device20 and receives the main power MAIN and the auxiliary power AUX, and thesecond charge module 10_2 is arranged between the first charge module10_1 and the third charge module 10_3. In FIG. 3, the dotted line showsthe main power MAIN transmission path, the two-dot chain line shows theauxiliary power AUX transmission path, and the real line shows thesignal(s) and information transmission path.

Reference is made to FIG. 4, which is another circuit block diagram ofthe charge system according to the 3rd embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In FIG. 4, the scheme of each of the first charge module10_1, the second charge module 10_2, and the third charge module 10_3 isthe same as the charge module 10 shown in FIG. 1 mentioned above and isnot repeated here for brevity.

The main power input terminal 112 of the first charge module 10_1 isconnected to the power supply device 20 for receiving the main powerMAIN provided by the power supplying device 20, and the auxiliary powerinput terminal 116 of the first charge module 10_1 is electricallyconnected to the power supply device 20 for receiving the auxiliarypower AUX provided by the power supplying device 20. The main poweroutput terminal 114 of the first charge module 10_1 is connected to themain power input terminal 112 of the second charge module 10_2, and theauxiliary output terminal 118 of the first charge module 10_1 isconnected to the auxiliary power input terminal 116 of the second chargemodule 10_2. The main power output terminal 114 of the second chargemodule 10_2 is connected to the main power input terminal 112 of thethird charge module 10_3, and the auxiliary output terminal 118 of thesecond charge module 10_2 is connected to the auxiliary input terminal116 of the third charge module 10_3. When charge procedure is performed,the main power MAIN needed to be conducted to the third charge module10_3 is initially conducted to the first charge module 10_1, and is nextbe conducted to the second charge module 10_2, and is then conducted tothe third charge module 10_3.

The T/R units 120 of the first charge module 10_1, the second chargeunit 10_2, and the third charge unit 10_3 are used in transmitting andreceiving signal(s) and information. In the charge system shown in FIG.4, wire-based communication is illustrated among the T/R units 120 ofthe first to third charge modules 10_1˜10_3. However, wirelesscommunication (such as infrared communication, Bluetooth communication,or WIFI communication) may be applied to the T/R units 120 of the firstto third charge modules 10_1˜10_3; wireless communication is convenientbecause it allows the T/R units 120 of the first to third charge modules10_1˜10_3 to connect to each other without wires. In addition, in thecharge system shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the signal(s) and informationtransmitted between the first charge module 10_1 and the third chargemodule 10_3 have to additionally transmit to the second charge module10_2. Specifically, the signal(s) and information provided by the firstcharge module 10_1 is first transmitted from the T/R unit 120 of thefirst charge unit 10_1 to the T/R unit 120 of the second charge module10_2; the T/R unit 120 of the second charge module 10_2 receives thesignal(s) and information. The signal(s) and information provided by thefirst charge module 10_1 and received by the T/R unit 120 of the secondcharge module 10_2 is then transmitted to the T/R unit 120 of the thirdcharge module 10_3. Similarly, the signal(s) and information provided bythe third charge module 10_3 is first transmitted from the T/R unit 120of the third charge unit 10_3 to the T/R unit 120 of the second chargemodule 10_2; the T/R unit 120 of the second charge module 10_2 receivesthe signal(s) and information. The signal(s) and information provided bythe third charge module 10_3 and received by the T/R unit 120 of thesecond charge module 10_2 is then transmitted to the T/R unit 120 of thefirst charge module 10_1.

In the present disclosure, the mastership is granted to the chargemodule that is preferentially receiving the auxiliary power AUX, and thecharge module granted the mastership may control the charge sequence ofthe charge modules in the charge system.

Specifically, in the charge system shown in FIG. 4, when the batterycharge apparatus 1 is initially connected to the power supply device 20,the auxiliary switches 102 and the charge switches 108 of the first tothird charge modules 10_1˜10_3 are turned off, thus the auxiliary powerAUX provided by the power supply device 20 is only transmitted to thefirst charge module 10_1 for activating the processor 100, the batterymanagement unit 106, and the T/R unit 120 thereof, this gives the firstcharge module 10_1 to grant the mastership. The first charge module 10_1granted the mastership is configured to control the charge sequence ofthe first to third charge modules 10_1˜10_3. In addition, the firstcharge module 10_1 granted the mastership may preferentially preformcharge procedure.

After the first charge module 10_1 is selected to act as a master of thecharge system; if the first charge unit 10_1 includes a plurality ofcharge units 104, charge-unit-address procedure is performed by theprocessor 100 of the first charge unit 10_1 for identifying chargesequence of the charge units 104. Specifically, in charge-unit-addressprocedure, each of the charge units 104 of the first charge unit 10_1 isidentified with a unique charge-unit-address code by the processor 100thereof. Thus, when charge procedure is performed, the charge units 104of the first charge unit 10_1 are sequentially charged according to thecharge-unit-address codes.

After charge-unit-address procedure, the processor 100 of the firstcharge module 10_1 is configured to control the auxiliary switch 102thereof to be turned on, and the auxiliary power AUX is conducted to thenext stage for recognizing whether the other charge module exists ornot.

In detail, when the auxiliary switch 102 of the first charge module 10_1is turned on, the auxiliary power AUX is conducted to the auxiliarypower output terminal 118 thereof and then enters the second chargemodule 10_2 for activating the processor 100, the battery managementunit 106, and the T/R unit 120 of the second charge module 10_2.Besides, a setup information that the mastership is granted by the firstcharge module 10_1 may be provided by the first charge module 10_1 andtransmitted the next stage (for example, the second charge module 10_2).

After the processor 100 and the T/R unit 120 of the second charge module10_2 are activated by receiving the auxiliary power AUX, the setupinformation provided by the first charge module 10_1 is received by theT/R unit 120 of the second charge module 10_2 and transmitted to theprocessor 100 thereof. Thus the second charge module 10_2 knows that themastership is granted by the first charge module 10_1, and the chargesequence of the second charge module 10_2 have to be identified by thefirst charge module 10_1. In the other words, the first charge module10_1 granted the mastership since there is not setup information entersthe T/R unit 120 when the auxiliary power AUX is conducted thereto.

The processor 100 of the second charge module 10_2 generates acharge-module-address request, and the charge-module-address request istransmitted to the first charge module 10_1 from the T/R unit 120 of thesecond charge module 10_2. The charge-module-address request enters theT/R unit 120 of the first charge module 10_1 and transmitted to itsprocessor 100. Therefore, the first charge module 10_1 knows theexistence of the second charge module 10_2. The charge-module-addressrequest may include commands to request for a particularcharge-module-address code for identifying charge sequence.

Thereafter, charge-module-address procedure is performed by theprocessor 100 of the first charge module 10_1 to identify the chargesequence of the second charge module 10_2. Charge-module-addressprocedure starts from the processor 100 of the first charge module 10_1to produce a charge-module-address code based on thecharge-module-address request provided by the second charge module 10_2,and the charge-module-address code is applied to identify the chargesequence of the second charge module 10_2.

The charge-module-address code is transmitted from the T/R unit 120 ofthe first charge module 10_1 to the T/R unit 120 of the second chargemodule 10_2, and is transmitted to the processor 100 of the secondcharge module 10_2. The charge-module-address code may be further storedin the memory 101 arranged in the processor 100.

The processor 100 of the second charge module 10_2 is configured tocontrol the auxiliary switch 102 thereof to be turned on after thecharge sequence of the second charge module 10_2 is well identified.Thus the auxiliary power AUX is conducted to the next stage forrecognizing whether the other charge module exists or not.

In detail, when the auxiliary switch 102 of the second charge module10_2 is turned on, the auxiliary power AUX is conducted to the auxiliarypower output terminal 118 thereof and then enters the third chargemodule 10_3 for activating the processor 100, the battery managementunit 106, and the T/R unit 120 of the third charge module 10_3. Besides,setup information that the mastership is granted by the first chargemodule 10_1 is provided by the first charge module 10_1 and transmittedto the third charge module 10_3 through the second charge module 10_2.

After the processor 100 and the T/R unit 120 of the third charge module10_3 are activated, the setup information provided by the first chargemodule 10_1 is received by the T/R unit 120 of the third charge module10_3 and transmitted to the processor 100 thereof. Thus the third chargemodule 10_3 knows that the mastership is granted by the first chargemodule 10_1, and the charge sequence of the third charge module 10_3have to be identified by the first charge module 10_1.

The processor 100 of the third charge module 10_3 generates acharge-module-address request, and the charge-module-address requestgenerated by the third charged module 10_3 is transmitted to the secondcharge module 10_2 from the T/R unit 120 of the third charge module10_2, and is further transmitted from the T/R unit 120 of the secondcharge module 10_2 to the T/R unit 120 of the first charge module 10_1.The charge-module-address request enters the T/R unit 120 of the firstcharge module 10_1 and transmitted to its processor 100. Therefore, thefirst charge module 10_1 knows the existence of the third charge module10_3.

Thereafter, charge-module-address procedure is performed by theprocessor 100 of the first charge module 10_1 to identify the chargesequence of the third charge module 10_3. Charge-module-addressprocedure starts from the processor 100 of the first charge module 10_1to produce a charge-module-address code based on thecharge-module-address request provided by the third charge module 10_3,and the charge-module-address code is applied to identify the chargesequence of the third charge module 10_3. The charge-module-address codeis transmitted from the T/R unit 120 of the first charge module 10_1 tothe T/R unit 120 of the second charge module 10_2, and is furthertransmitted from the T/R unit 120 of the second charge module 10_2 tothe T/R unit 120 the third charge unit 10_3. The charge-module-addresscode receives by the T/R unit 120 the third charge unit 10_3 is thentransmitted to the processor 100 thereof. The charge-module-address codemay be further stored in the memory 101 arranged in the processor 100.In should be noted that the charge sequence of the third charge module10_3 is later than that of the second charge module 10_2.

Thereafter, the processor 100 of the third charge module 10_3 isconfigured to control the auxiliary switch 102 thereof to be turned onafter the charge sequence of the third charge module 10_3 is wellidentified. Thus the auxiliary power AUX may be transmitted to the nextstage for recognizing whether the other charge module exists or not. InFIG. 4, no other charge module exists in the charge system, thus thesetup information sent from the first charge module 10_1 is not receivedand the first charge module 10_1 does not receive charge-module-addressrequests; consequently, the first charge module 10_1 determines that noother charge module exists, and the charge system includes three chargemodules (i.e., the first charge module 10_1, the second charge module10_2, and the third charge module 10_3). When determining that no othercharge modules exist, charge procedure is performed based on thecharge-module-address codes.

It should be noted that if the first charge module 10_1 (and/or secondcharge module 10_2 and/or the third charge module 10_3) may include aplurality charge units 104, each charge unit 104 is identified by aunique charge-unit-address code by the processor 100 of the first charge10_1 (and/or the second charge module 10_2 and/or the third chargemodule 10_3) before the auxiliary switch 102 is turned on. Thus thecharge sequence of the charge units 104 is identified. In addition,charge-unit-address code identifying procedure may be performed by theprocessor 100 at the charge units 104 where the battery BAT isconnected. After performing charge-unit-address code identifyingprocedure, the processor 100 is configured to control the auxiliaryswitch 102 be turned on to recognize whether the other charge moduleexists or not.

When the battery charge device 1 performs charge procedure, the firstcharge module 10_1, the second charge module 10_2, and third chargemodule 10_3 do not charge the batteries BAT connected thereto at thesame time. Specifically, the batteries BAT connected to the secondcharge module 10_2 and the third charge module 10_3 are charged afterthe batteries BAT connected to the first charge module 10_1 is fullycharged. Thus the problem of long charge time occurs when all of thebatteries connected to the battery charge apparatus 1 are charged at thesame time is overcame.

Reference is made to FIGS. 5A and 5B. When the first charge module 10_1performs charge procedure, the states of the battery BAT connected tothe charge unit 104 (as shown in FIG. 4) is preferentially measured bythe processor 100 thereof. When the battery BAT is abnormal, the batterycharge apparatus 1 may stop performing charge procedure, thus protectionof the charge system and the battery BAT is provided. In the meantime,the voltage of the battery BAT is also detected by the processor 100.When the battery BAT is normal, the charge system generates a powerrequest based on the detected result to the power supply device 20 forrequesting a proper main power MAIN for charging the battery BAT, thusthe charge time can be shortened. Specifically, if the voltage acrossthe battery BAT is 3 volts, the processor 100 may send the power requestbased on the detected result to the microcontroller 200 of the powersupply device 20 to request the main power MAIN with 3.1 volts.

Thereafter, the processor 100 may make the battery management unit 106turn on the charge switch 108, the battery BAT can thus be charged withrequested main power MAIN.

When the first charge module 10_1 includes a plurality of charge units104, the processor 100 is configured to control the charge units 104 tobe sequentially charged based on the charge-unit-address code until allof batteries BAT connected to the charge units 104 of the first chargemodule 10_1 are well charged.

With refer again to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. When the batteries BAT connectedto the charge units 104 of the first charge module 10_1 are fullycharged, the processor 100 of the first charge module 10_1 generates acharge command having the charge-module-address code to the secondcharge module 10_2. The charge-module-address code is transmitted fromthe T/R unit 120 of the first charge module 10_1 to T/R unit 120 of thesecond charge module 10_2.

The second charge module 10_2 control its charge unit 104 to performcharge procedure when receiving the charge command having thecharge-module-address code. The processor 100 of the second chargemodule 10_2 may made the charge units 104 be sequentially charge basedon the charge-unit-address code stored in the memory 101 when the secondcharge module 10_2 includes plural charge units 104.

The processor 100 of the second charge module 10_2 generates fullycharged information when the batteries BAT connected to the charge units104 thereof are fully charged. The fully charged information istransmitted to the first charge module 10_1 from the T/R unit 120 of thesecond charge module 10_2.

The first charge module 10_1 generates another charge command to thethird charge module 10_3 having the charge-module-address code to makethe third charge module 10_3 perform charge procedure after receivingthe fully charged information sent from the second charge module 10_2.The charge units 104 of the third charge module 10_3 charges thebatteries BAT connected thereto in accordance with thecharge-unit-address codes. When the batteries BAT connected to thecharge units 104 of the third charge module 10_3 are fully charged, theprocessor 100 of the third charge module 10_3 generates fully chargedinformation and transmits the fully charged information to the firstcharge module 10_1 from T/R unit 120 of the third charge module 10_3.Therefore, the first charge module 10_1 with mastership knows that allof the batteries BAT connected thereto are fully charged. It should benoted that the charge command transmitted from the first charge module10_1 to the third charge module 10_3 is initially transmitted to the T/Runit 120 of the second charge module 10_2, and is further transmitted tothe T/R unit 120 of the third charge module 10_3 by the T/R unit 120 ofthe second charge module 10_2. Similarly, the fully charged informationtransmitted from the third charge module 10_3 to the first charge module10_1 is initially transmitting to the T/R unit 120 of the second chargemodule 10_2, and is further transmitted to the T/R unit 120 of the firstcharge module 10_1 by the T/R unit 102 of the second charge module 10_2.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the signal(s) and information transmitted betweenthe first charge module 10_1 and the third charge module 10_3 have totransmit to the second charge module 10_2, and then further transmitsfrom the second charge module 10_2 to the target charge module, thus thetransmitting time is expended.

In order to shorten the transmitting time of signal(s) and informationtransmitted between the first charge module 10_1 and the third chargemodule 10_3 and improve transmitting speed, the connection mannerbetween the T/R units 120 of the first charge module 10_1 and the thirdcharge module 10_3 may be further designated.

Reference is made to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, which are circuit block diagramsof a charge system according to a 4th embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the charge system (its referencenumeral is omitted) includes a battery charge apparatus 1 and a powersupply device 20. The battery charge apparatus 1 electrically connectedto the power supply device 20 includes a first charge module 10_1, asecond charge module 10_2, and a third charge module 10_3. The schemefor each of the first charge module 10_1, the second charge module 10_2,and the third charge module 10_3 is the same as the charge module 10shown in FIG. 1 mentioned above and is not repeated here for brevity. Itshould be noted that the difference between the charge systems in thisembodiment and in the 3rd embodiment mentioned above is the transmissionpath for transmitting signal(s) and information between the first chargemodule 10_1 and the third charge module 10_3.

In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the transmission path for transmitting signal(s)and information between the first charge module 10_1 and the thirdcharge module 10_3 does not connect to the second charge module 10_2.Specifically, the T/R unit 120 of the first charge module 10_1 isdirectly connected to the T/R unit 120 of the third charge module 10_3,thus the signal(s) and information generated by the first charge module10_1 is directly transmitted from the T/R unit 120 of the first chargemodule 10_1 to the T/R unit 120 of the third charge module 10_3.Similarly, the signal(s) and information generated by the third chargemodule 10_3 is directly transmitted from the T/R unit 120 of the thirdcharge module 10_3 to the T/R unit 120 of the first charge module 10_1.This gives the transmission time of the signal(s) and informationtransmitted between the first charge module 10_1 and the third chargemodule 10_3 can be shortened. In addition, when the T/R unit 120 of thesecond charge module 10_2 is abnormal or broke down, the first chargemodule 10_1 and the third charge module 10_3 can be successfullycommunication. On the contract, in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, when the T/R unit120 of the second charge module 10_2 is abnormal or broke down, thefirst charge module 10_1 cannot be communicated with the third chargemodule 10_3, and the batteries BAT connected to the third charge module10_3 cannot be charged.

In FIG. 6, the dotted line shows the main power MAIN transmission path,and the two-dot chain line shows the auxiliary power AUX transmissionpath; the transmission directions and functions of the main power MAINand auxiliary power AUX among the first to third charge module 10_1˜10_3shown in FIG. 6 are the same as that shown in FIG. 3 mentioned above andare not repeated here for brevity, and the charge system shown in theFIG. 6 and FIG. 7 can achieve the functions as the charge system shownin FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 does.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which is circuit block diagram of a chargesystem according to a 5th embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG.8, the charge system (its reference numeral is omitted) includes abattery charge apparatus 1 and a power supply device 20. The batterycharge apparatus 1 electrically connected to the power supply device 20includes a first charge module 10_1, a second charge module 10_2, and athird charge module 10_3. The scheme for each of the first charge module10_1, the second charge module 10_2, and the third charge module 10_3 isthe same as the charge module 10 shown in FIG. 1 mentioned above and isnot repeated here for brevity.

In FIG. 8, the dotted line shows the main power MAIN transmission path,the two-dot chain line shows the auxiliary power AUX transmission path,and the real line shows the signal(s) and information transmission path;the transmission directions and functions of the auxiliary power AUX andsignal(s) and information among the first to third charge module10_1˜10_3 shown in FIG. 8 are the same as that shown in FIG. 3 mentionedabove and are not repeated here for brevity. In the other words, addressprocess (including charge-unit-address procedure andcharge-module-address procedure), which is performed before chargeprocedure, is the same as the 3rd embodiment mentioned above. However,when performing charge procedure, the main power MAIN is directlytransmitted to the first charge module 10_1, the second charge module10_2, and the third charge module 10_3.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the main power input terminals 112 ofthe first to third charge module 10_1˜10_3 are directly connected to thepower supply device 20, and the main power MAIN is conducted to thecharge unit(s) 104 of the first charge module 10_1 to charge thebatteries BAT connected thereto after address procedure is performed.After the batteries BAT connected to the first charge module 10_1 arefully charged and the second charge module 10_2 receives the chargecommand provided by the first charge module 10_1, the charge unit(s) 104may perform charge procedure based on the charge-unit-address codes, andthe main power MAIN is directly conducted to the charge unit(s) 104 ofthe second charge module 10_2.

In the 3rd embodiment of the present disclosure, however, after thebatteries BAT connected to the first charge module 10_1 are fullycharged and the second charge module 10_2 receives the charge commandprovided by the first charge module 10_1, the main power MAIN conductedto the second charge module 10_2 for charging the batteries BATconnected thereto by passing through the first charge module 10_1. Asthe result, when the first charge module 10_1 is broke, the batteriesBAT connected the second charge module 10_2 (and the third charge module10_3) cannot be charged.

On the contrary, in this embodiment (the 5th embodiment), the first tothird charge module 10_1˜10_3 are directly connected to the power supplydevice 20 for receiving the main power MAIN, thus the power transmittingloss is reduced and when one of the charge modules is broke, thebatteries BAT of the other charge module can be successfully charged.

In FIG. 8, the battery charge apparatus 1 includes three charge modules(i.e., the first charge module 10_1, the second charge module 10_2, andthe third charge module 10_3); however, the number of the charge modulesis not limited to the specific numbers shown in the embodiment. Inaddition, the auxiliary power AUX and the signal(s) and information ofthe charge modules may be in a series-transmission manner, exclusive thecharge module with mastership. Furthermore, the main power MAIN isdirectly conducted to all of the charge modules when performing chargeprocedure. The charge system shown in the FIG. 8 can achieve thefunctions as the charge system shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 does.

Reference is made to FIG. 9, which is a circuit block diagram of acharge system according to a 6th embodiment of the present disclosure.In FIG. 9, the charge system (its reference numeral is omitted) includesa battery charge apparatus 1 and a power supply device 20. The batterycharge apparatus 1 electrically connected to the power supply device 20includes a first charge module 10_1, a second charge module 10_2, athird charge module 10_3, a fourth charge module 10_4, a fifth chargemodule 10_5, and a sixth charge module 10_6. The scheme for each of thefirst charge module 10_1, the second charge module 10_2, the thirdcharge module 10_3, the fourth charge module 10_4, the fifth chargemodule 10_5, and the sixth charge module 10_6 is the same as the chargemodule 10 shown in FIG. 1 mentioned above and is not repeated here forbrevity.

The first charge module 10_1 is electrically connected to the powersupply device 20, and receives the main power MAIN and the auxiliarypower AUX provided by the power supply device 20. The transmission pathsof the main power MAIN (shown by dotted line), the auxiliary power AUX(shown by two-dot chain line), and signal(s) and information (shown byreal line) among the power supply device 20, the first to third chargemodule 10_1˜10_3 are the same as that shown in FIG. 3 mentioned above.

The transmission paths of the main power MAIN (shown by dotted line),the auxiliary power AUX (shown by two-dot chain line), and signal(s) andinformation (shown by real line) among the power supply device 20, thefourth to sixth charge module 10_4˜10_6 are the same as the transmissionpaths of the main power MAIN, the auxiliary power AUX, and the signal(s)and information shown in FIG. 3 mentioned above. The fourth chargemodule 10_4 is electrically connected to the power supply device 20 forreceiving the main power MAIN, and is electrically connected to thefirst charge module 10_1 for receiving the auxiliary power AUXtransmitted by the first charge module 10_1 and being communication withthe first charge module 10_1.

The first charge module 10_1 is preferentially receives the auxiliarypower source AUX and is then selected to act as a master of the chargesystem; therefore, the first charge module 10_1 can identify chargesequence of the first to sixth charge module 10_2˜10_6.

In FIG. 9, the battery charge apparatus 1 includes sixth charge module;however, the number of the charge modules are not limited to thespecific numbers shown in the embodiment. In addition, the auxiliarypower AUX and the signal(s) and information of the charge modules may bein a series-transmission manner, exclusive the charge module withmastership. The charge system shown in the FIG. 9 can achieve thefunctions as the charge system shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 does.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to theforegoing preferred embodiment, it will be understood that thedisclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalentvariations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in thisart in view of the teachings of the present disclosure. Thus, all suchvariations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within thescope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A battery charge apparatus comprising a firstcharge module and a second charge module, each of the first chargemodule and the second charge module comprising a main power inputterminal, a main power output terminal, an auxiliary power inputterminal, an auxiliary power output terminal, a processor, an auxiliarypower switch, and at least one charge unit, the auxiliary power switchconnected to the auxiliary power input terminal and the auxiliary poweroutput terminal, and the processor electrically connected to theauxiliary power switch and the charge unit; wherein the main poweroutput terminal of the first charge module is connected to the mainpower input terminal of the second charge module, the auxiliary poweroutput terminal of the first charge module is connected to the auxiliarypower input terminal of the second charge module, the main power inputterminal of the first charge module is connected to a main power, andthe auxiliary power input terminal of the first charge module isconnected to an auxiliary power; wherein the auxiliary power switch ofthe first charge module is turned on and the auxiliary power isconducted to the second charge module after a charge-unit-address codeis produced and sent to the charge unit of the first charge module bythe processor of the first charge module, and a charge-module-addresscode provided by the first charge module is transmitted to the secondcharge module based on a charge-module-address request generated by thesecond charge module and transmitted to the first charge module; whereinthe processor of the first charge module is configured to control thecharge unit of the first charge module to perform charge procedure inaccordance with the charge-unit-address code when the charge unit of thefirst charge module is not fully charged, and the processor of the firstcharge module is configured to generate a charge command having thecharge-module-address code and transmits the charge command to thesecond charge module after the charge unit of the first charge module isfully charged; wherein the processor of second charge module isconfigured to control the charge unit of second charge module to performcharge procedure after the charge unit of the second charge modulereceives the charge command, the second charge module generates a fullycharged information when the charge unit of the second charge module isfully charged and transmits the fully charged information to the firstcharge module; and wherein the auxiliary power is used to first activateone of the first charge module and the second charge module and then toactivate the remain of the first charge module and the second chargemodule, the first charge module and the second charge module are chargedaccording to a sequence of activating.
 2. The battery charge apparatusof claim 1, wherein each of the first charge module and the secondcharge module further comprises a receiving and transmitting unitelectrically connected to the auxiliary power input terminal, theprocessor, and the charge unit, the receiving and transmitting unit ofthe first charge module is configured to transmit thecharge-module-address code and receive the charge-module-address requestand the fully charged information.
 3. The battery charge apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the receiving and transmitting units of the firstcharge module and the second charge module are in a wire-basedconnection or in a wireless connection.
 4. The battery charge apparatusof claim 2, wherein each of the first charge module and the secondcharge module further comprises a memory connected to the receiving andtransmitting unit and the processor.
 5. The battery charge apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the charge unit comprises: a battery management unitelectrically connected to the auxiliary power output terminal and theprocessor; a charge switch electrically connected to the main powerinput terminal and the battery management unit; and a charge portelectrically connected to the charge switch and at least one battery. 6.The battery charge apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a thirdcharge module comprising a main power input terminal, a main poweroutput terminal, an auxiliary power input terminal, an auxiliary poweroutput terminal, a processor, an auxiliary power switch, and at leastone charge unit, wherein the auxiliary power switch is connected to theauxiliary power input terminal and the auxiliary power output terminal,the processor is electrically connected to the auxiliary power switchand the charge unit, the main power input terminal of the third chargemodule is connected to the main power output terminal of the secondcharge module, and the auxiliary power input terminal of the thirdcharge module is connected to the auxiliary power output terminal of thesecond charge module; wherein the auxiliary power switch of the secondcharge module is turned on and the auxiliary power is conducted to thethird charge module after another charge-unit-address code is producedand sent to the charge unit of the second charge module by the processorof the second charge module, and a charge-module-address code providedby the first charge module is transmitted to the third charge modulebased on a charge-module-address request generated by the third chargemodule and transmitted to the first charge module; wherein the processorof the first charge module is configured to generate another chargecommand having the charge-module-address code and transmits the chargecommand to the third charge module after receiving the fully chargedinformation sent from the second charge module; wherein the processor ofthird charge module is configured to control the charge unit of thirdcharge module to perform charge procedure after the charge unit of thesecond charge module receives the charge command, and the third chargemodule generates another fully charged information when the charge unitof the third charge module is fully charged and transmits the fullycharged information to the first charge module; and wherein theauxiliary power is used to first activate one of the first chargemodule, the second charge module and the third charge module and then toactivate the remains of the first charge module, the second chargemodule and the third charge module, the first charge module, the secondcharge module and the third charge module are charged according to asequence of activating.
 7. The battery charge apparatus of claim 6,wherein the charge-module-address request generated by the third chargemodule is directly transmitted to the first charge module.
 8. Thebattery charge apparatus of claim 6, wherein the charge-module-addressrequest generated by the third charge module is transmitted to the firstcharge module through the second charge module.
 9. A charge systemcomprising: a power supply device for providing a main power and anauxiliary power; and a battery charge apparatus electrically connectedto the power supply device, wherein the battery charge apparatuscomprises a first charge module and a second charge module, each of thefirst charge module and the second charge module comprises a main powerinput terminal, a main power output terminal, an auxiliary power inputterminal, an auxiliary power output terminal, a processor, an auxiliarypower switch, and at least one charge unit, the auxiliary power switchis connected to the auxiliary power input terminal and the auxiliarypower output terminal, and the processor is electrically connected tothe auxiliary power switch and the charge unit; wherein the main poweroutput terminal of the first charge module is connected to the mainpower input terminal of the second charge module, the auxiliary poweroutput terminal of the first charge module is connected to the auxiliarypower input terminal of the second charge module, the main power inputterminal of the first charge module is connected to the main power, andthe auxiliary power input terminal of the first charge module isconnected to the auxiliary power; wherein the auxiliary power switch ofthe first charge module is turned on and the auxiliary power isconducted to the second charge module after a charge-unit-address coreis produced and sent to the charge unit of the first charge module bythe processor of the first charge module, and a charge-module-addresscode provided by the first charge module is transmitted to the secondcharge module based on a charge-module-address request generated by thesecond charge module and transmitted to the first charge module; whereinthe processor of the first charge module is configured to control thecharge unit of the first charge module to perform charge procedure inaccordance with the charge-unit-address code when the charge unit of thefirst charge module is not fully charged, and the processor of the firstcharge module is configured to generate a charge command having thecharge-module-address code and transmits the charge command to thesecond charge module after the charge unit of the first charge module isfully charged; wherein the processor of second charge module isconfigured to control the charge unit of second charge module to performcharge procedure after the charge unit of the second charge modulereceives the charge command, the second charge module generates a fullycharged information when the charge unit of the second charge module isfully charged and transmits the fully charged information to the firstcharge module; and wherein the auxiliary power is used to first activateone of the first charge modules and the second charge module and then toactivate the remain of the first charge module and the second chargemodule, the first charge module and the second charge module are chargedaccording to a sequence of activating.
 10. The charge system of claim 9,wherein the main power provided by the power supply device is conduct tothe second charge module through the first charge module during thecharge unit of the second charge module is preforming charge procedure.11. The charge system of claim 9, wherein the main power provided by thepower supply device is directly conduct to the second charge moduleduring the charge unit of the second charge module is preforming chargeprocedure.
 12. The charge system of claim 9, wherein each of the firstcharge module and the second charge module further comprises a receivingand transmitting unit electrically connected to the auxiliary powerinput terminal, the processor, and the charge unit, the receiving andtransmitting unit of the first charge module is configured to transmitthe charge-module-address code and receive the charge-module-addressrequest and the fully charged information.
 13. The charge system ofclaim 9, wherein the receiving and transmitting units of the firstcharge module and the second charge module are in a wire-basedconnection or in a wireless connection.
 14. The charge system of claim9, wherein each of the first charge module and the second charge modulefurther comprises a memory connected to the receiving and transmittingunit and the processor.
 15. The charge system of claim 9, wherein thecharge unit comprises: a battery management unit electrically connectedto the auxiliary power output terminal and the processor; a chargeswitch electrically connected to the main power input terminal and thebattery management unit; and a charge port electrically connected to thecharge switch and at least one battery.
 16. The charge system of claim13, wherein further comprising a third charge module comprising a mainpower input terminal, a main power output terminal, an auxiliary powerinput terminal, an auxiliary power output terminal, a processor, anauxiliary power switch, and at least one charge unit, wherein theauxiliary power switch is connected to the auxiliary power inputterminal and the auxiliary power output terminal, the processor iselectrically connected to the auxiliary power switch and the chargeunit, the main power input terminal of the third charge module isconnected to the main power output terminal of the second charge module,and the auxiliary power input terminal of the third charge module isconnected to the auxiliary power output terminal of the second chargemodule; wherein the auxiliary power switch of the second charge moduleis turned on and the auxiliary power is conducted to the third chargemodule after another charge-unit-address code is produced and sent tothe charge unit of the second charge module by the processor of thefirst charge module, and a charge-module-address code provided by thefirst charge module is transmitted to the third charge module based on acharge-module-address request generated by the third charge module andtransmitted to the first charge module; wherein the processor of thefirst charge module is configured to generate another charge commandhaving the charge-module-address code and transmits the charge commandto the third charge module after receiving the fully charged informationsent from the second charge module; wherein the processor of thirdcharge module is configured to control the charge unit of third chargemodule to perform charge procedure, and the third charge modulegenerates another fully charged information when the charge unit of thethird charge module is fully charged and transmits the fully chargedinformation to the first charge module; and wherein the auxiliary poweris used to first activate one of the first charge module, the secondcharge module and the third charge module and then to activate theremains of the first charge module, the second charge module and thethird charge module, the first charge module, the second charge moduleand the third charge module are charged according to a sequence ofactivating.
 17. The charge system of claim 16, wherein thecharge-module-address request generated by the third charge module isdirectly transmitted to the first charge module.
 18. The charge systemof claim 16, wherein the charge-module-address request generated by thethird charge module is transmitted to the first charge module throughthe second charge module.